Radiation detector



Jan. 2, 1951 E. o. WOLLAN ETAL RADIATION DETECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed sept. 18, 1945 FTE- . [Zara rax Jan. 2, 1951 E. o.- woLLAN ETAL 2,536,991

RADIATION DETECTOR Filed Sept. 18, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 2,5%,dti

RADIATION DETECTOR Ernest O. Vlollan and Louis A. Perdue, Oak Ridge, Tenn., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the United States Atomic Energy Commission Application September 18, 1945, Serial No. 617,129

(Cl. Z50-27.5)

13 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to apparatus for the detection and measurement of quantum radiation, such as gamma and X-ray type radiation, which is inherently dangerous to living tissue.

In the carrying out of various chemical and other procedures involving radioactive materials, the operating personnel is almost continuously subjected to various types of radiant energy emanating from such materials. While short exposures to these emanations are not particularly dangerous, it is a well-established fact that the physiological effects of certain radiations are cumulative, and that prolonged exposure to even relatively small amounts of low energy quantum l radiation, especially quantum radiation of the gamma and X-ray type, will cause serious injury. Hence, in order to adequately safeguard the health of persons working with, or in the vicinity of, radioactive materials it is very important that means be available whereby the presence of such radiations and the integrated exposure of individual workers thereto can be readily determined.

While the physiological danger to living tissue is dependent to some extent upon the intensity or energy level of the radiation, the amount of damage produced by quantum radiation of both gamma and X-ray types is fairly accurately indicated by measuring and integrating the exposure over a given period of time in roentgen units. For example, the ordinary healthy adult can safely receive an exposure of about o milliroentgens per day or about 3 roentgens per month.

Various means have been proposed for detecting and metering exposure to gamma and X-ray type quantum radiation. One of the most satisfactory devices for this purpose comprises a small portable ion chamber, which is of pocket size in order that it may be carried on the person of an individual who is exposed to quantum radiation. These chambers are charged to a denite potential before being put into use, and, periodically, they are collected and a measurement is made of the charge remaining in each instrument. The structure and constants of these portable ion chambers are such that ionization is produced therein when the chamber is subjected to gamma or X-ray type quantum radiation. Such ionization effects partial discharge of the electrical charge initially carried by the ion chamber, and when the instrument is checked, the amount of charge remaining provides a convenient measure of the amount of radiation which reached the ion chamber during the exposure period. It is, of course, a simple matter to calibrate these chambers in such manner that the loss of charge indication can be interpreted in terms of roentgen unit exposure of the wearer.

However, certain diculties have been experienced with the known ion chambers of this type. Since the chamber is of pocket size and is carried by a living individual in close proximity to his body, variable humidity conditions will result, due to normal varation in body perspiration rate. Under some conditions, the humidity will be great enough to produce partial or complete discharge of the chamber, thereby inducing errors and possible errors in the readings obtained which create serious doubts regarding the accuracy of any readings obtained. Furthermore, great diniculty has been experienced in obtaining an ion chamber, and especially a pocket size ion chamber, having a discharge characteristic which is truly indicative of the physiological damage probably resulting from the radiation received and being measured by such instrument,

There is, therefore, a great need in the art for an improved, pocket-type ion chamber of the type above described, and the principal object of the present invention is the provision of such a device. Other and more specific objects of the invention include the provision of an improved pocket-type ion chamber having a response char acteristic which is substantially independent of the humidity of the surrounding atmosphere, and, of even greater importance, the provision of an improved chamber having a response characteristic which is accurately indicative of the physiological damage caused to living tissue.

As will hereinafter appear, these objects of the invention are accomplished by the embodiment into a pocket type ion chamber of a number of novel structural and operational features. These and the other features and advantages of the invention wil1 be made more apparent by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings of one illustrative embodiment thereof. 1n the drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view through a pocket type ionization chamber constructed in accordance with the invention; Y

li'igs. 2 through 7 are, respectively,` enlarged, sectional views taken on the lines 2 2, 3 3,

t-- and l-l of Fig. l; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing one arrangement for charging ion chambers of the subject type and for measuring the loss of charge which occurs therein during use.

The pocket type ion chamber constituting partisular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the dra-wings includes a hollow, cylindrical,

main casing il which supports and contains the other elements of the device. The casing H is preferably made of aluminum or of some other moisture-proof material which is permeable to gamma and Xray type quantum radiation. Desirably, it should be of conducting material. The lower end of the casing l i is closed, and the other end is open and provided with an internally, threaded portion I3.

Disposed within the main casing ii are the various structural elements which make up the three main portions of the device. These include the ion chamber section i5, located adjacent the lower end of the device, a condenser unit i?, which is electrically in parallel with the electrodes oi the ionization chamber i5 for increasing the electrical capacity oi the device,` and a combined, movable charging Contact and seal unit I9, the function of which will appear later, located at the open end of the main casing Il. There is also a screw-on cap 2i, which may be of metal or oi insulating material, having a threaded portion 23 for engaging the internally threaded portion i3 at the open end of the outer casing il, as illustrated.

The ionization chamber in the ion chamber section iii is defined by two concentric, cylindrical electrodes 25 and 2i. The central or collecting electrode 25 is rodlike in form` and is conveniently made of brass or other conducting material. It is supported centrally of the outer casing ii by means including a main insulator 29. The insulator 2S should be made of polystyrene or some other insulating material of very high insulating value, and it includes a cupshaped, thin walled, cylindrical portion 3i which is utilized toinsulate the conducting surfaces of the condenser unit il, as will hereinafter appear.

The outer electrode 2i comprises a thin Walled, cup-shaped member which is adapted to t within the lower end of the outer casing il, and the dimensions of engaging surfaces of the casing il and the electrode 2l' are such that a tight fit with good electrical Contact therebetween, will be obtained. The lower portion of the main insulator has an annular groove 32 formed therein for engaging the upper end of the outer electrode 2l. The outer electrode 2i is preferably constructed of a conducting plastic which has substantially the same average atomic weight and the saine carbon to hydrogen ratio as the human body. As is well known, the ionization which is produced in material by an incident beam of radiation is proportional to the atomic weight of the material. Material having the average. atomic weight oi the human body therefore produces the saine ionization that the human body would undergo when subjected to this incident radiation. Here average is used in its usual mathematical sense. A graphite-impregnated, resinous, methyl methacrylate polymer comprising 10.7 per cent graphite and 89.3 per cent resin is a satisfactory material for this purpose.

The utilization of this material for one of the electrodes of the device is a desirable feature of this invention, Durinfj use, any beta or alpha radiation emitted by the outer casing ii, due to irradiation thereof, will be absorbed in the plastic outer electrode 2l', and the ionization in the chamber i5 will be due solely to the electrons emitted from the plastic electrode 2i due to quantum irradiation caching such electrode. Hence, since the average atomic weight characteristics or" the plastic electrode 2i are substantially the same. as those of living tissue, the ionization produced within the ion chamber, as a result of quantum irradiation oi` such chamber will be almost exactly proportional to the probable physiological injury to living tissue. The use of plastic electrodes of the type herein described is more fuliy disclosed and claimed in the copendinfar application of John R. Raper and R. E. Zirkle, Serial No. 730,136, entitled Ionization Chamber, and reference is hereby made to that application.

The condenser unit ii is disposed adiacent the ioniza ion chamber portion iii, and incudes concentric conducting surfaces 33 35, which are spaced by the cup-shaped portion 3i or" the main insulator 2Q. The inner surface 35 is cleined by a cylindrical, aluminum insert 3l of suitable dimensions which is adapted to be disposed within the insulator portion 3i. The aluminum insert 3l has a centrally disposed opening provided therein for receiving tbe inner collecting electrode rod preferably t ih a press-nt, and a small projection 3&3 is provided at the upper end for facili ating the operation ci the movable charging. contact and seal unit is. The outer condenser suriacc e3 is provided by the inner surface of the main casing i i. rEhe outer, peripheral surface of the insulator portion 3iis desirably coated with aquadag, or the like, and the entire inner surface of the insulator portion 3i is liliewise covered with aquadag. Since the insulator portion 3i is just a snug fit within the outer casing ii, and since the insert 3i is likewise a snug iit within the insulator portion 3i, these coatings aid in, providing sinooh, continuous, conducting surfaces for the condenser. in instances where a nonmietallic outer casing il is used or where a non-metallic insert 3i is desired, the aquadag coating or coatings may be used as one or both ci the condenser surfaces. IThe condenser unit il provides a substantial capacity in parallel with the ionization chamber i 5.

rlhe structurai elements comprising the ionization chamber i5 and the condenseq unit il are held in place within the outer casing il by an annular, Xernally threaded ring i which also serves as the main support for the combined seal and charging contact unit i9. The ring ii is adapted to be screwed into the threaded end portion i3 of t* e outer casing ii and is provided at its upper end `with slots ft2 for engagement with a suitable driving tool. my

The seal and contact unit is include a short, cylindrically shaped, charging pin t3 which is of about the same diameter as the central electrode 25 and which is supported upon a cylindrical inn sulator $5, desirably of polystyrene or other high quality insulating material. The insulator 45 is, in turn, supported. upon a flexible, rubber diaphragm or washer li?, which is annular shaped. The inner peripheral edge of the washer iii is adapted t0 engage a suitably dimensioned, annular groove i9 formed in the insulator it supporting the charging pin The outer edge of the washer il rests against a shoulder 5i formed by an annular recess provided in the annular, support ring 4i, and is there clamped firmly in piace by a annular clamping ring 53 which is pressi'ltted, or otherwise securely attached to the nular support ring lil, as illustrated. It will be apparent that this arrangement provides a charging contact 'which is normally out oi electrical contact wi'h the ion chamber electrodes 25 and 2l and the conducting surfaces and 35 of the condenser unit i?, but which, by virtue oi the exibie diaphragm support therefor, can be moved into contact withY the central .electrode 25 by the application of an axial force to the contact end of the instrument. At the same time, the structure provides an air and liquid-tight seal at the end of the instrument. ln this conneotion, it will sometimes be desirable to apply a suitable waterproofing cement, such as a glyptal cement, to the washer 41 and the elements engaging the washer M.

When it is desired to put the device into operation, it is, of course, necessary to supply an electrical charge to the ionization chamber l5 and to the condenser il which is in parallel therewith. This can be accomplished very con-- veniently by a `circuit arrangement such as that illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 8. The circuit of Fig. 8 includes a battery 55 of suitable potential, a single pole, single-throw switch 5i, which may be of the push button type, a spring terminal 59 adapted for connection to the outer casing of the ion chamber device, and a second terminal or probe iii arranged so that it may contact the charging pin #it constituting a part oi the movable connection at the end of the device. To provide for standardization of the voltage supplied by the battery 55, the circuit desirably includes a potentiometer 53 and a voltmeter 65 connected as shown.

In carrying out the charging operation, the device is inserted in a suitable insulating guideway, indicated at 65. The outer casing il there engages the spring terminal 59, whereupon the outer terminal 2l of the ionization chamber and the outer conducting surface 33 of the condenser unit il are electrically connected to one side of the charging voltage. The device is then pushed into contact with the probe terminal Si with suihcient force to move the charging pin i3 into engagement with the central or collecting electrode 25. With the device in this position the switch 51 is closed applying the charging voltage thereto. The device may then be withdrawn from the guideway S5, and after the cap 2i has been replaced, it is ready for use.

Upon release of axial pressure on the casing ii at the conclusion of the charging operation, the charging pin d3 will disengage the central electrode 25, thereby electrically isolating the charged portions oi the device.l Furthermore, since the diaphragm support for the charging pin 43 provides a moisture proof seal at the end ci the outer casing l, which is itself of moisture proof construction, the entire device is rendered moisture and dust proof.

ln the particular device described, it has been found advisable to use a charging potential of the order of 150 to 200 volts. ing apparatus is also employed as a metering instrument, it includes an electroscope unit Gi in parallel with the terminals 59 and 5i. The operation oi this will be described in a subsequent paragraph.

Conveniently, the ion chamber device is of such size that it can be carried on the person of the wearer. The particular device illustrated in the drawings has an overall length of about 51/2 inches and a diameter of about 5/8 inch, being just a little larger than a fountain pen. Gamma or X-ray type quantum radiation incident upon the device, will effect ionization within the ionization chamber I5, causing a current to flow between the two el-ectrodes 25 and 2i, vith resultant loss of the charge previously applied to the paralleled ionization chamber l5 and condenser I1. Since, as previously pointed out, the outer electrode 21 is of a conducting material having substantially the same atomic weight and Since the chargof;

lil

the same carbon to hydrogen ratio as the human body, the amount of ionization, which takes place within the chamber l5, and hence the proportionate loss of voltage resulting from the discharge of the ion chamber I5 and condenser H, will be substantially proportional to the amount of dangerous radiation reaching the wearer of the device.

In order to determine and evaluate the extent to which the ion chamber l5 and the condenser Il have been discharged, it is most convenient t0 measure the charge remaining in the instrument after the predetermined period of exposure. This can be done by any well-known means, and the circuit illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. t is adapted for such measurements. To measure the charge remaining in an irradiated partially discharged chamber, the cup 2| is removed and the device is pushed into the guideway 65 until the probe contact @l just touches the charging pin 43 thereby eliminating capacitance eiects between the pin 63 and electrodes ii and 25. In this position the outer casing Ii is contacted by the terminal 59. The switch 5l is then closed, with the result that the electrometer unit B1, which has a deiinite capacity, as indicated by the condenser symbol C3, is charged to the potential supplied by the battery 55. rThis potential should be the same as that used in the initial charging operation. The charging pin 43 is simultaneously brought to the potential oi one side of the voltage source. Next, the switch 5'! is opened, and the movable charging pin 43 is pushed against the probe terminal 5i with suiiicient force to move the charging pin 43 against the inner electrode 25. rlhe effect of this is to connect the capacity of the ion chamber device, which includes the paralleled capacities of the ionization chamber l5 and the condenser portion i7 thereof, as indicated by the condenser symbols C1 and C2, in parallel with the electrometer unit which has a capacity C3. The condenser C1 and C2 comprising the ion chamber device and the capacitance C3 of the electroscope .1 61 will thereupon share their charges and an equilibrium voltage will be reached. The electroscope may then be used as a voltmeter to indicate the equilibrium voltage, and by comparison of this voltage with the charging voltage, it is a simple matter to obtain an accurate evaluation of the amount of charge which has been lost. lIhe charges divide inversely as the capacitances.

If a series of these measurements are being made at regular intervals, it will be found desirable to calibrate the electrometer @l directly in roentgen units, and particularly satisfactory results have been obtained utilizing a projection type electrometer with a scale of about 8 inches for an exposure ci 2 roentgens. Generally, the electrometer scale will not be linear, small eX- posures giving a larger proportionate movement of the fiber. n the particular embodiment oi the invention described above, the electrometer 51 has a capacity or about 2 mmf. and the ion chamber device has a capacity of about le mmf.

In the foregoing, there has been disclosed the features of a new and improved pocket-type ion chamber device. The device, by virtue of the particular constructional features embodied therein, may be used under conditions of widely varying humidity, or in locations which are eX- posed to dust or lint without risk of loss of the charge which has been initially stored therein, and, by virtue of the novel electrode construction utilized, the response of the instrument is sub- Stantallv .equivalent to the 'injury produced in living` tissue by quantum; radiation ci the gamma or X-ray type. The apparatus has effectively overcome the principal deficiencies of the devices previously known in the art. The features of the invention, which are believed to be new, are

. expressly pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ion chamber of the class described, tubular means defining the walls o f a moisture proof outer casing, a pair of spaced apart, insulated electrodes disposed within said outer casing, and an insulated charging pin supported upon said outer casing by resilient means which normally holds said nin cut of Contact with said electrodes but which permits said pin to be moved into temporary contact with one of said electrodes during the charging of said ion chamber.

2. In an ion chamber of the class described, a hollow cylindrical member oi conducting material, which is permeable to quantum radiation, defining the walls of a moisture proof outer casing, a hollow, cylindrical outer electrode disposed withinsaid casing in electrical contact therewith, a rod-like, inner, collectingelectrode supported within said casing so as to extend centrally within said outer electrode and being insulated therefrom, and a charging pin supported at one end of said casing by insulating, resilient means which normally holds said pin out of Contact with said electrodes but which permits said pin to be moved into temporary contact with said inner electrode during the charging of said ion chamber,-

3;` In an ion chamber of the class described, a hollow cylindrical member of a conducting material, which is permeable to quantum radiation, de lining the walls of a moisture-proof casing closed at one end and open at the other end thereof, a hollow, cylindrical, outer electrode disposed within said casing in electrical contact therewith, a rod-like, inner, collecting electrode supported within said casing so as to extend centrally within said outer electrode and being insulated therefrom, and means including a charging pin and a flexible diaphragm support for said pin disposed at the open end of said casing, said means providing a moisture-proof seal for the open end of said casing, said flexible diaphragm support in-V sulating said pin from said outer casing, normally holding said pin out of contact with said electrodes, and permitting said pin to be moved into temporary contact with said inner electrode during the charging of said ion chamber.

e. In an ion chamber of the class described, tubular means dening the walls of a moistureproof outer casing, a pair. of spaced apart, insulated electrodes disposed within said outer cas-- ing, and an insulated charging pin supported upon said outer casing by resilient means which normally holds said pin out of contact with said electrodes but which permits said pin to be moved into temporary contact with one of said electrodes during the charging of said ion chamber, at least one of said electrodesk being of an electrically conductive compositi-on of approximately the same atomic weight as the human body.

5. In an ion chamber of the class described, a hollow cylindrical member of conducting material, which is permeable to quantum radiation, defining the walls of a moisture proof outer casing, a hollow cylindrical outer electrode disposed within said casing in electrical contact therewith, said electrode being constructed at least part of electrically conductive material of approximately the same average atomic weight as the human body, a rod-like, inner, collecting electrode supported within said casing so as to extend centrally within said outer electrode and being insulated therefrom, and a charging pin supported at one end of said casing by insulating, resilient means which normally holds said pin out of Contact with said electrodes butl which peri mits said pin to be moved into temporary con-- tact with said inner electrode during the charging of said ion chamber,

6. In an ion chamber of the class described, a hollow cylindrical member of a conducting material, which is permeable to quantum radiation, de-

ning the walls of a moisture-proof casing closed at one end and open at the other end thereof, a hollow, cylindrical, outer electrode disposed within said casing in electrical contact therewith, said electrode being constructed of an electrically conducting material having approximately the same carbon to hydrogen ratio and the same average atomic weight as the human body, a rodlile, inner, collecting electrode supported within said casing so as to extend centrally within said outer electrode and being insulated therefrom, and means including a charging pin and a flexible diaphragm support for said pin disposed at the open end of said casing, said means providing a moisture proof seal for the ropen end of said casing, said iiexible diaphragm support insulating' said pin from said outer casing, normally holding said pin out of contact with said electrodes, and permitting said pin to be moved into temporary contact with said inner electrode during the charging of said ion chamber.

7. In an ion chamber of the class described, tubular means defining the walls of a moisture proof outer casing, a pair of spaced apart, insulated electrodes disposed within said outer casing, an insulated charging pin supported upon said outer casing by resilient means which normally holds said pin out of contact with said electro es but which permits said pin to be moved into temporary contact with one of said electrodes during the charging of said ion chamber, and a built-in condenser unit which is connected in parallel with said electrodes, also disposed within said casing.

8. In apparatus of the class described, tubular means deiining the walls of a moisture proof outer casing, a short, tubular, outer electrode disposed wthin said casing at one end thereof, a rod-like, inner, collecting electrode supported within said casing so as to extend centrally within said outer electrode and being insulated therefrom, a charging pin supported at one end of said casing, by insulating, resilient means which normaly holds said pin out of contact with said electrodes but which permits said pin to be moved into temporary contact with said inner electrode during the charging of said ion chamber, and a built-in condenser unit which is connected in parallel with said ionization chamber, said condenser unit comprising a hollow cylindrical mem- 'oer ci insulating material disposed within said casing adjacent said ionization chamber and concentric surlaces of conducting material spaced apart by said insulating member.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a hollow cylindrical member of conducting material, which is permeable to quantum radiation, dening the walls o-f a moisture-proof outer casing, a short, hollow cylindrical, outer electrode disposed coaxiallv Within said casing at one end thereof and in electrical contact therewith, a rodlike, inner, collecting electrode supported by insulating means coaxially Within said casing, said inner electrode extending within said outer electrode to provide an ionization chamber at one end oi said casing, means including a charging pin and a ilexible diaphragm support for said pin disposed at the open end of said casing, said means providing a moisture prooi seal for the ope-n end of said casing, said flexible diaphragm support insulating said pin from said outer casing, normally holding said pin out oi contact with said electrodes, and permitting said pin to be moved into temporary contact With said inner electrode during the charging of said ion cham-- ber, and a built-in condenser unit which is connected in parallel with said ionization chamber, said condenser unit comprising a hollow cylindrical member of insulating material disposed concentrically within said casing adjacent said ionization chamber and the conducting surfaces of said condenser unit being dened by said outer casing and by a cylindrical enlargement of said inner electrode.

10. In an ion chamber of the class described, tubular means defining the walls of a moisture proof outer casing, a pair of spaced apart, insulated electrodes disposed within said outer casing, an insulated charging pin supported upon said outer casing by resilient means which normally holds said pin out of contact with said electrodes but which permits said pin to be moved into temporary contact with one oi said electrodes during the charging oi said ion chamber, at least one of said electrodes being of an electrically conductive composition oi approximately the same atomic weight as the human body, and a built-in condenser unit which is connected in parallel with said electrodes and which is also disposed within said casing.

11. In apparatus of the class described, tubular means defining the walls of a moisture-prooi outer casing, a short, tubular, outer electrode disposed within said casing at one end thereof, said electrode being constructed at least in part of electrically conductive material of approximately the same average atomic weight as the human body, a rod-like, inner, collecting electrode supported within said casing so as to extend centrally within said outer electrode and being insulated therefrom, a charging pin supported at one end of said casing by insulating, resilient means which nomally holds said pin out of contact with said electrodes but which permits said pin to be moved into temporary contact with said inner electrode during the charging of said ion chamber, and a built-in condenser unit which is connected in parallel with said ionization chamber, said condenser unit comprising a hollow cylindrical member of insulating material disposed within said casing adjacent said ionization chamber and concentric surfaces of conducting material spaced apart by said insulating member.

12. In apparatus of the class described, a hollow cylindrical member of conducting material, which is permeable to quantum radiation, defining the walls of a moisture prooi" outel` casing, a short, hollow cylindrical, outer electrode disposed coaxially within said casing at one end thereof and in electrical contact therewith, said electrode being constructed of an electrically conducting material having approximately the same carbon to hydrogen ratio and the same average atomic weight as the human body, means including a charging pin and a flexible diaphragm support for said pin disposed at the open end of said casing, said means providing a moisture proof seal for the open end of said casing, said ilexible diaphragm support insulating said pin from said outer casing, normally holding said pin out of contact with said electrodes, and permitting said pin to be moved into temporary contact with said inner electrode during the charging of said ion chamber, and a built-in condenser unit which is connected in parallel with said ionization chamber, said condenser unit comprising a hollow cylindrical member of insulating material .disposed concentrically within said casing adjacent said ionization chamber, and the conducting surfaces of said condenser unit being donned by said outer casing and by a cylindrical enlargement of said inner electrode.

18. An ionization chamber comprising at least two mutually insulated electrodes having an ionizing medium therebetween, means for hermctically sealing said ionizing medium, an insulated charging pin supported upon said means for hermetically sealing the ionizing medium by resilient means which normally holds said pin out of contact with one of said electrodes, but which permits said pin to be moved into temporary Contact with said electrode during the charging of said ion chamber.

ERNEST O. WOLLAN. LOUIS A. PARDUE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,855,669 Glasser et al Apr. 26, 1932 2,122,222 Vingerhoets June 28, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 531,325 France Jan. 11, 1922 401,370 Germany Aug. 30, 1924 784,956 France May 6, 1935 

